First Nations activist reflects on fight against Trans Mountain pipeline expansion [Video]

The taps have been turned on for the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion – a national infrastructure project that overcame fierce public opposition, construction delays and cost-overruns that pushed the final bill to more than $34 billion.

In a news release Wednesday, Trans Mountain announced the 1,100-kilometre project from Alberta to an export terminal in Burnaby, B.C., was online and said it expected the first tankers to depart with oil sands product later this month.

Seated on rock near the beach at New Brighton Park in East Vancouver, Will George, a member of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, used the day to reflect on his years of activism against the project.

“These are our spiritual highways which sustained our people for thousands of years,” he said gesturing out to Burrard Inlet. “So all the direct action that I was called to do over the years was a high honour.”

The expansion will increase …